Premium Amazon River Cruise

Day 1: Iquitos - Amazon River
Day 2: Amazon River - Monkey Island - Yagua Native Community
Day 3: Yagua Native Community - San Rafael Village - Iquitos
Day 4: Iquitos - Manatee Rescue Center - transfer to the airport

Day 1: Iquitos - Amazon River
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be welcomed by the cruise staff and transferred by bus to the port of embarkation. Then by skiff, you navigate to your home for the next four days, the Amazonas Cruise Vessel.

Once on board, you enjoy a refreshing cocktail, captain and crew introduction, orientation to the tour, and review safety protocols. Lunch is served on board and is a fitting introduction to a culinary experience you will not forget. 

Your first skiff excursion is scheduled in the afternoon to meet the "guardians" of the Amazon Rainforest, the Kukama Native Community. The Kukama Native Community is a group indigenous to the Peruvian Amazon region, residing along the banks of the Amazon River and its tributaries. They have a rich cultural heritage deeply intertwined with the rainforest environment. Experiencing the Kukama community firsthand provides insight into the challenges they face in preserving their cultural identity and livelihoods in the face of modernization and environmental threats. It's an enriching experience that fosters cultural exchange and appreciation for the diversity of indigenous peoples within the Amazon rainforest.

Once back on board, the bartender has a special evening planned as you will learn the history and distillation techniques of the country’s signature drink, Pisco. You will also taste several varieties of the traditional Pisco Sour cocktail, all prepared with local exotic fruits. And then, dinner is served!

Day 2: Amazon River - Monkey Island - Yagua Native Community
After a hearty buffet-style breakfast, the skiff transfers guests to the Monkey Island Rescue Center. This sanctuary receives a wide range of monkeys that are commonly hunted for meat or to be sold as pets. Even though these small animals were victims of abuse and wildlife trafficking, they are now safe and cared for.  When you least expect it, a spider monkey or a Red-faced Uakari will approach you and try to take your hand. You learn how these primates are rescued, rehabilitated, and released back into the forest. Centers like Monkey Island play a crucial role in protecting the biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest and raising awareness about the importance of conservation.

After lunch on board, you will visit the Yagua native community. Guests can learn about traditional Yagua customs, including hunting, fishing, and gathering practices, as well as their spiritual beliefs and cultural rituals. The local chief will recount the tale of their ancestors settling around the revered Lupuna tree, believed to safeguard the forest. Try your hand at using the Pucuna, a traditional blowgun used for hunting.

Before departing, you will take part in a special ceremony: planting trees to aid in the Amazon's reforestation efforts. Even though it is one tree, one tree becomes many. You are making a lasting impact on the rainforest.

Back on the cruise ship, join the Chef for an entertaining cooking class. A local shaman will come on board and share insights into spiritual practices and traditional healing using medicinal plants.

Day 3: Yagua Native Community - San Rafael Village - Iquitos
Today begins early. The sunrise over the Amazon River is incredible,  painted in vivid hues of red, orange, and purple, You then visit Indiana, a charming village bustling with locals shopping for rainforest products, fruits, vegetables, fish, and spices.

A delightful breakfast awaits onboard, fueling you up for the day ahead and your exploration of Morphosapi Butterfly Sanctuary at San Rafael Village, Run entirely by the San Rafael community, this sanctuary promotes environmental education and protects sixteen butterfly species. Discover their life cycle, marvel at their vibrant colors and unique shapes, and even release some butterflies into the wild to aid in pollination.

After returning onboard for a sumptuous lunch, you cruise towards the Nanay River. Take some time to relax before embarking on a boat trip to witness the sunset's breathtaking colors over the Momon River. As night falls, listen to the enchanting sounds of the jungle awakening.

Cap off this day with a farewell cocktail on the third deck after dinner, cherishing the memories of your Amazon experience.

Day 4: Iquitos - Manatee Rescue Center - transfer to the airport
The final breakfast on board is scheduled a bit earlier to allow ample time for packing and check-out. Guests will disembark at the Embarcadero Turistico, where a waiting bus will transport them to their last destination before bidding farewell. A poignant visit awaits at the Manatee Rescue Center, a unique animal orphanage dedicated to Amazonian manatees and other endangered wildlife. Here, guests can witness the vital work of rescuing, rehabilitating, and ultimately releasing these aquatic mammals back into the wild.

Following the visit, guests will be transferred to the airport by bus, where attentive staff will be available to provide any additional assistance needed. It's hoped that guests depart with cherished memories from their magical adventure in the Amazon.

Day 1: Iquitos - Amazon River
Day 2: Amazon River - Monkey Island - Yagua Native Community
Day 3: Yagua Native Community - Orellana
Day 4: Yagua Native Community - Butterfly Sanctuary - Iquitosa
Day 5: Iquitos - Manatee Rescue Center - transfer to the airport

Day 1: Iquitos - Amazon River
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be welcomed by the cruise staff and transferred by bus to the port of embarkation and then by skiff to your home for the next four days, the Amazonas Cruise Vessel.

Once on board, you enjoy a refreshing cocktail, captain and crew introduction, orientation to the tour, and safety protocols.

Lunch is served on board and is a fitting introduction to a culinary experience you will not forget. 

Your first skiff excursion is scheduled in the afternoon to meet the "guardians" of the Amazon Rainforest, the Kukama Native Community.

The Kukama Native Community is a group indigenous to the Peruvian Amazon region, residing along the banks of the Amazon River and its tributaries. They have a rich cultural heritage deeply intertwined with the rainforest environment. Experiencing the Kukama community firsthand provides insight into the challenges they face in preserving their cultural identity and livelihoods in the face of modernization and environmental threats. It's an enriching experience that fosters cultural exchange and appreciation for the diversity of indigenous peoples within the Amazon rainforest.

Once back on board, the bartender has a special evening planned as you will learn the history and distillation techniques of the country’s signature drink, Pisco. You will also taste several varieties of of the traditional Pisco Sour cocktail, all prepared with local exotic fruits. Dinner is served!

Day 2: Amazon River - Monkey Island - Yagua Native Community
After a hearty buffet-style breakfast, the skiff transfers guests to the Monkey Island Rescue Center. This sanctuary receives a wide range of monkeys that are commonly hunted for meat or to be sold as pets. Even though these small animals were victims of abuse and wildlife trafficking, you can now see them happily jumping around the island. When you least expect it, a spider monkey or a Red-faced Uakari will approach you and try to take your hand. You learn how these primates are rescued, rehabilitated, and released back into the forest.

After lunch on board, you will visit the Yagua native community. Guests can learn about traditional Yagua customs, including hunting, fishing, and gathering practices, as well as their spiritual beliefs and cultural rituals. The local chief will recount the tale of their ancestors settling around the revered Lupuna tree, believed to safeguard the forest. Try your hand at using the Pucuna, a traditional blowgun used for hunting.

Before departing, you'll take part in a special ceremony: planting trees to aid in the Amazon's reforestation efforts. By planting your own tree, you are making a lasting impact on the rainforest.

Back on the cruise ship, join the Chef for an entertaining cooking class. A local shaman will come on board and share insights into spiritual practices and traditional healing using medicinal plants.

Day 3: Yagua Native Community - Orellana
During breakfast, the boat navigates along the Napo River to historic Orellana. The town is named after Francisco de Orellana, a Spanish conquistador who explored the confluence of the Coca River (Ecuador) and the Napo River as part of his Amazon explorations back in the sixteenth century. In the main square of this charming town, your guide’s stories about the Amazons –warrior women who inhabited the jungle– and Orellana’s ghost ship will fascinate you. After, the skiff will navigate to a quiet spot for a relaxing morning of fishing.

Back on board, you enjoy a full lunch as the boat navigates to the Yagua community. This afternoon you are welcome to spend some leisure time on board. Guests can rest in their rooms or enjoy the facilities and services on board. Clear your mind with a rejuvenating massage, relax by the outdoor jacuzzi or simply enjoy the breathtaking scenery on the fourth deck.

This evening before dinner, your bartender will be waiting to serve you freshly squeezed fruit juices, wines, spirits, ice-cold beer and the most exotic jungle-inspired cocktails.

Day 4: Yagua Native Community - Butterfly Sanctuary - Iquitos
Today begins early. The sunrise over the Amazon River is incredible,  painted in vivid hues of red, orange, and purple, You then visit Indiana, a charming village bustling with locals shopping for rainforest products, fruits, vegetables, fish, and spices.

A delightful breakfast awaits onboard, fueling you up for the day ahead and your exploration of Morphosapi Butterfly Sanctuary.at San Rafael Village, Run entirely by the San Rafael community, this sanctuary promotes environmental education and protects sixteen butterfly species. Discover their life cycle, marvel at their vibrant colors and unique shapes, and even release some butterflies into the wild to aid in pollination.

You enjoy a full lunch on board as the boat navigates towards the Nanay River. After some free time for resting and relaxation, you will go on a boat trip to observe the colors of the sunset over the Momon River. We will wait until night to listen to the sounds emitted by the jungle after sunset. This evening after dinner, we will go up to the third deck for a memorable farewell cocktail.

Day 5: Iquitos - Manatee Rescue Center - transfer to the airport
The final breakfast on board is scheduled a bit earlier to allow ample time for packing and check-out. Guests will disembark at the Embarcadero Turistico, where a waiting bus will transport them to their last destination before bidding farewell. A poignant visit awaits at the Manatee Rescue Center, a unique animal orphanage dedicated to Amazonian manatees and other endangered wildlife. Here, guests can witness the vital work of rescuing, rehabilitating, and ultimately releasing these aquatic mammals back into the wild.

Following the visit, guests will be transferred to the airport by bus, where attentive staff will be available to provide any additional assistance needed. It's hoped that guests depart with cherished memories from their magical adventure in the Amazon.

Day 1: Iquitos - Amazon River - Tanshiyacu
Day 2: Tamshiyacu - Yarapa River
Day 3: Yarapa River - Puerto Miguel - Nauta
Day 4: Nauta - Nauta Caño
Day 5: Nauta Caño - Yanayacu Pucate
Day 6: Yanayacu Pucate - Las Palmas Community 
Day 7: Las Palmas - Tahuayo
Day 8: Tahuayo - Iquiatos - Airport

Day 1:quitos - Amazon River - Tanshiyacu
Upon your arrival at the airport, the team will be waiting to extend a warm welcome to the vibrant city of Iquitos. By bus you will be transported to the boarding port, where the auxiliary boat awaits to ferry you to your home for the next eight days: the Amazon Cruzeros.

After setting in, you convene on the third deck for a welcome address by the captain and crew, including a brief overview of safety protocols and evacuation procedures. A tour of the Amazon Cruise's communal areas will precede your departure from the Nanay River, embarking towards the Amazon River and onwards to Tamshiyacu.

During navigation, you'll delve into the diverse array of highly nutritious fruits indigenous to the Amazon, renowned for their protein, fiber, iron, and vitamin content. From the renowned Breadfruit Tree to camu camu, aguaje, macambo, aguaymanto, cocona, passion fruit, lúcuma, coffee, cocoa, and more, each fruit holds its own nutritional value and cultural significance. Particularly, you will explore the benefits of passion fruit, celebrated globally for its delightfully sweet and tangy taste, as well as its rich nutrient profile, beneficial for combating stress, insomnia, and respiratory ailments. To savor its essence, you enjoy fruit sours, with and without alcohol.

The Chef and culinary team will tantalize your taste buds and offer an exceptional gastronomic experience, utilizing ingredients sourced directly from the bountiful Amazon pantry, in accordance with seasonal availability.

Your exploration continues with a visit to the Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Communal Reserve, a sanctuary for observing flora and fauna in their natural habitat. Upon arrival, you embark on an excursion along the Tamshiyacu Creek, where opportunities abound to spot a diverse array of wildlife, including birds, monkeys, sloths, caimans, fish, and dolphins. Don't miss the chance to witness the mesmerizing spectacle of a sunset in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.

Your first unforgettable overnight stay is inTamshiyacu.

Day 2: Tamshiyacu - Yarapa River
As you continue the journey along the Amazon River, a buffet-style breakfast will be served. Departure is scheduled for around 8 am.

In the mid-morning, the bartender will be available on the third deck, offering refreshing fruit beverages and cocktails inspired by the lush Amazon jungle.

After lunch, you explore by skiff the tranquil black waters of Yarapa River, accompanied by a diverse array of birdlife, including swallows, songbirds, piprites, black-necked falcons, as well as sightings of monkeys and sloths.

You will learn about the Breadfruit Tree (Artocarpus altilis), locally known as "Pandisho". Its fruits, with their neutral flavor, are a staple for the riverine inhabitants of the Amazon. Additionally, the tree's resin is used by natives for its healing properties, applied directly to wounds and tumors.

In the afternoon, you will witness a breathtaking natural spectacle: the confluence of two mighty rivers, the Ucayali and the Marañón, merging their flows into the vast expanse of the Amazon. The symphony of rushing waters, chirping swallows, and raucous parrots will showcase nature's grandeur in all its glory, reminding you of your integral part in this exclusive and captivating experience.

Prepare for an unforgettable overnight stay on the Yarapa River.

Day 3: Yarapa River - Puerto Miguel - Nauta
Experience the enchantment of the Amazon Victoria Regia Lily. Following breakfast, you embark on an auxiliary boat journey to Puerto Miguel. From there, you navigate to the confluence of the Ucayali and Marañón Rivers to encounter the majestic Amazon Victoria Lily. This native water lily, the largest of its kind, flourishes in the tranquil shallows of the Amazon's tributaries.

You will also encounter camu camu. This vibrant red fruit boasts remarkable antioxidant properties, thanks to its abundant vitamin C content. Known for its ability to combat stress, neutralize free radicals, and safeguard against cancer and cardiovascular diseases, camu camu stands as a testament to the Amazon's natural bounty.

In the afternoon, a guided excursion to San José de Paranapuras is on the agenda with a vibrant tapestry of regional products from the Peruvian Amazon on full display. As you venture into the depths of a pristine primary forest, keep your eyes peeled for sightings of the Shansho, a prehistoric bird, as we journey towards a tranquil lagoon.

You visit Our Lady of Paranapuras, founded in 1652 by Father Figueroa. Situated near the "salinas de peña," these salt flats hold historical significance, serving as a vital condiment for trade and consumption among the missions and towns of the region. Today, this tradition endures, with salt therapy offering therapeutic benefits for various ailments.

Retire for the night in Nauta, reflecting on the day's discoveries amidst the tranquil embrace of the Amazon.

Day 4: Nauta - Nauta Caño
Exploring Nauta, a lively center of river life, is first up on your agenda. As you stroll through bustling streets, take in the authentic atmosphere of this riverside town, engaging with local residents along the way. At the vibrant marketplace, where an array of fish and exotic fruit awaits, you gain insight into the simplicity and depth of the regional culinary heritage.

Legend has it that Nauta's roots trace back to April 30, 1830, credited to the Kukama chief Manuel Pacaya Irarica, though it was officially founded in 1930. Nauta holds immense importance for local communities, serving as both a marketplace for their crops and a vital connection to Iquitos, the departmental capital.

You are introduced to cocona, a tropical fruit native to the Peruvian Amazon. With its appealing reddish-yellow hue and citrusy flavor, cocona is rich in vitamin C, facilitating easy iron absorption. Moreover, it provides carbohydrates, iron, calcium, carotene, and phosphorus.

You board the skiff and head to Nauta Caño, nestled within the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. Known as the "forest of mirrors," Nauta Caño reflects stunning sunsets and natural vistas in its tranquil black waters. Keep a lookout for wildlife such as squirrel monkeys, toucans, macaws, iguanas, birds, dolphins, and caimans as you navigate through this captivating ecosystem.

Prepare for an overnight stay amidst the serenity of Nauta Caño.

Day 5: Nauta Caño - Yanayacu Pucate
First up: Las Palmas, a town cocooned in beauty and tropical splendor with incredible biodiversity and awe-inspiring views. Local guides will demonstrate the traditional use of blowguns, spears, and bows as hunting tools for sustenance. Keep an eye out for sightings of lizards and sloths amidst the verdant landscape.

You get to taste aguaymanto and lucuma, indigenous products of Peru cultivated along the coast and in the Andean regions. Aguaymanto boasts a high vitamin C content and is hailed as a superfood for its abundance of antioxidants and essential nutrients. Renowned for its healing properties, aguaymanto aids in wound recovery, boosts the immune system and enhances red blood cell production, ideal for maintaining youthfulness.

The lucuma tree, thriving in the Andean region, is prized for its fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, beta-carotene, and minerals. These nutritional properties were highly esteemed during the Inca Empire, with lucuma revered as a symbol of fertility. Ancient ceramics dating back to 200 AD, adorned with images of lucuma and buried in sacred tombs, attest to its significance.

The auxiliary boat will head for an excursion to Shiriyacu, a blackwater stream teeming with piranhas, and then continue on to Pahuashiro, a small tributary of the Marañón River, where you look for wildlife amidst the stunning scenery. Keep your camera ready to capture the breathtaking sunset against this picturesque backdrop of birds and monkeys.

Day 6: Yanayacu Pucate - Las Palmas Community 
Today you visit the Las Palmas community, a village surrounded by beauty and tropical splendor. You will enjoy the biodiversity and impressive views and learn about their customs and lifestyle. They will also teach you how to use the blowgun, spear, and arch as hunting weapons. This is also where you can spot lizards and sloths. Before lunch, you return to the black water stream, Shiriyacu, to fish piranhas, using traditional and local techniques. In the afternoon, we will explore a small tributary of the Marañón River, Pahuachiro Creek, to look for wildlife. This evening after dinner, we will go up to the third deck for a memorable farewell cocktail and dinner.

Day 7: Las Palmas - Tahuayo
You begin your return navigation to Iquitos where you can relax and enjoy every moment. An intriguing activity awaits you onboard. Don't miss the chance to indulge in the tasting of macerated drinks and cocktails, crafted with ingredients and fruits sourced from the area. You learn the history and origin before participating in the preparation of the renowned pisco sour.

You will also learn about paiche, a giant fish emblematic of the Amazon, rich in omega 3, 6, and 9. Overfishing has threatened its existence and disrupted food webs, posing a risk to other species. To safeguard its future, a periodic ban has been implemented, allowing adults to reproduce without the pressure of capture and ensuring the growth of juvenile fish. Witness the remarkable care as male paiches construct nests to nurture their offspring.

In the afternoon, you can join the auxiliary boat to explore the Tahuayo River enjoying its vast array of wildlife, including swallows, tropical songbirds, piprites, black-necked falcons, and sloths. Once again you can fish for fierce piranhas and other species.

Day 8: Tahuayo - Iquiatos - Airport
To allow for some extra rest, breakfast will be served later than usual for you. You will check out and head to the tourist port for disembarkation, where the bus will be waiting to take you to the airport. Your guide will be available to offer additional assistance if necessary, assisting you until you have boarded your return flight to Lima. We hope you had a magical adventure.